The holidays are a time of celebration and joy for many. However, they can also bring up tough emotions, often referred to as the “
holiday blues
.” These feelings can be confusing, but it’s important to recognize them and take steps to protect your mental health during this holiday season.
WebMD recently hosted a webinar titled “
Holiday Blues: Protect Your Mental Health This Holiday Season
,” during which WebMD’s Chief Medical Officer John Whyte, MD, MPH, discussed the impact of holiday blues and ways to prevent and overcome them.
With nearly 20 years of experience in the field of public health, Whyte has emphasized the need to address our community’s top health concerns through strategic partnerships.
Discussing holiday blues, Whyte explained, “Holiday blues are these feelings of sadness,
stress
, or loneliness. They’re temporary and they’re situational. They’re linked to specific stressors and emotional surroundings.”
“The reason why it’s important to be aware of it is because it can develop into more serious, long-term mental health issues – particularly, clinical depression and anxiety.”
During the webinar, Whyte addressed various ways to care for your mental health during the holiday season. A poll revealed that 63% of viewers prefer to set time aside to relax in order to ease their mental well-being.
In addition, a second poll found that the top three emotions people felt during this season were sadness, lack of energy, and loneliness.
The holiday season can also be challenging for those dealing with grief and loss. It’s important to address these emotions and create new, positive memories to help break the cycle of painful associations.
For more insights on managing holiday blues and protecting your mental health, you can read the full article
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